I am in a league which we base our handicap off of 250. It used to be based off of 220. What would be the reason for the change. It stills work out to be the same amount of pins given to the lower average bowler.
Any more you usually want the base figure higher than the highest average on the league.
So one possible reason for the increase is that one or more bowlers have a higher average than 220 this season, so they increased the base figure.
+1
In a handicap league, you want every bowler to have handicap in order to be as fair as possible to lower average bowlers out there.
I haven't read the rule book in a while; but the USBC rule book used to recommend that handicap be set as 100% of 300.
I like 90% as the percentage; still gives the higher average bowler a small advantage for being better, but not insurmountable. you can tighten it up even more at 95%. the logic is that if both bowlers hit average, the higher average guy wins by a few pins. at 100% it would be a tie.
If you really wanted it to be fair, make it 90% of 200. Then assign the 90% value as a negative for averages higher than 200.
90% of 200
120 bowler gets +72 pins
220 bowler gets -18 pins
If they both bowl their average, the 220 guy still wins, but it makes it a lot more interesting and gives the 120 bowler a fighting chance.
And think of all the fun it will be to see the scratch house hack cry and bellyache over it.
The higher average bowler still wins, but they actually have to work for it.